Welcome to this week's Torah / bible study section.  “You are standing [nitzavim] today in the presence of Yahweh your God ….  You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with Yahweh your God” (Deuteronomy 29:10–12).  

Last week’s study of the Torah / Bible titled “Ki Tavo” (When You Enter) concluded with Moses telling the people that just 40 years after they had attained nationhood, they had acquired “a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear.”  Reaching that point entailed a 40 year journey in the wilderness.  This week, in Nitzavim-Vayelech, the Jewish People stand before God about to enter into the covenant, a solemn oath with Him. 

United They Stood.

Standing together has different significance according to the occasion or reason.  Whether in unity to hear a national anthem or in response to cheering an action at a recreation event.  The Hebrew language has different words for standing up. The Hebrew of Deuteronomy 29:10 uses the word nitzavim (נצבים) when Moses says to the children of Israel, "You stand today, all of you, before the LORD your God." Nitzavim implies standing at attention, more akin to the pledge of allegiance than the home run standing.  Why were the Israelites collectively standing before God?  It was for one reason alone:  to enter into a covenant with Him.  The expression you are standing (atem nitzavim) is used almost 300 times in the Bible and always to enter into some kind of contract, pact or agreement.  All were invited to enter into the brit (covenant) with God, from the least to the greatest.  Everyone, from the leaders, elders and officers of tribes, to their wives and children had equal opportunity to receive a place in the Kingdom of God.  Even the ger (stranger or foreigner) was offered an equal place in the covenant with Elohim, in order “that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God (Elohim) to you.”  (Deuteronomy 29:13).  This covenant was unique in that it transcended any limitation of time or place.  It was made with “those standing there as well as with those who were not present at that time.”  (Deuteronomy 29:15).  After Israel broke this covenant, God promised through the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah a “New Covenant” (Brit Chadashah) for the people of Israel and Judah in Jeremiah 31:31-33. 

In synagogues or other religious events, there are certain parts of the service where everyone stands.  For example, whenever the doors of the ark (the chest that contains the Torah scroll) are opened, the entire congregation rises to their feet to express their reverence for God's Word. Certain prayers also require the congregation to stand and be mindful that they are in the presence of God. When a congregation stands together before God, it is more than a room full of individuals. By standing together to revere God, the congregation expresses itself as a single body.

In Deuteronomy 29, Moses knew that he was about to die. Before he left the children of Israel, he wanted to see them committed to the LORD. He asked the children of Israel to stand at attention in reverence before God. He had come to the end of his long depiction of the covenant, its history, its terms and obligations, and its consequences. Now it was time to invite the children of Israel to affirm their commitment to live according to everything that he had just said. 

When we stand before God as the great assembly of His Son, Yahshua, "there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, there is neither male nor female; for [we] are all one in the Messiah Yahshua, and Messiah is all, and in all" (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). As believers, both heirs and coheirs with the great people of Israel, we should always endeavour to remember that differences and distinctions of person and station are irrelevant to our standing in Messiah.

 Free to Choose Good.

In study section “Nitzavim”, God sets before the Israeli People two diametrically opposed choices:  life and good, or death and evil (et ha'chayim v'et ha'tov; v'et hamavet v'et hara).  Just as a good father might instruct his son or daughter as to the best decision to make, God implores His children to make the right choices and choose life.   He did not ask them to have blind faith in Him.  They had been separated from the knowledge of Him as possessed by their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob due to being in Egypt for 430 years.  Deu 29:2  And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; Deu 29:3  The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:  When Yahshua started His calling on Israelis to follow Him He neither asked them to have blind faith; but also performed miracles to get their attention.  Since His resurrection our knowledge of Him has not been broken for any period.  God continued to have a remnant keeping His laws in one part of the world or other.  It is the deceiver and his agents who have tried to keep light of God’s laws from us.  You too can be a peculiar person onto Him by following the distinctive laws and holy days He established as a sign of being His people. 

Deu 29:11  Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the cutter of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:  Deu 29:12  That thou shouldest enter into covenant with Yahweh thy God and into his oath, which Yahweh thy God maketh with thee (by birth, grafted in stranger or servant) this day: Deu 29:13  That he may establish thee today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Deu 29:14  Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; Deu 29:15  But with him that standeth here with us this day before Yahweh our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:  30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.  Deu 29:29  The secret things belong unto Yahweh our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. 

This verse provides an incredible insight into the purpose of the Torah (righteous living instructions from God).  God gave the Scriptures to us as a guide so we know what is good and what is evil; nevertheless, it is up to each of us to either live according to God’s Word by accepting the good and rejecting the evil, or to live according to the dictates of our own heart and the current cultural perspective or worldview.  This is the concept of free will that God has given to mankind; but which ever choice you make it is either for God or satn not yourself!  Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Circumcision of the Heart.

Moses described the final redemption to come, he told Israel that God will circumcise their hearts. He said, “God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). 

The metaphoric circumcision of the heart will enable us to completely fulfil the commandment of loving God.  To love God is to keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21; 15:10; 1John 5:2-3; 2Jhn 5:6). It will grant us life, even eternal life.  In the Scriptures, a circumcised heart refers to having a repentant heart, suppliant to the will of God.  For example, in Deuteronomy 10:16, Moses commanded the people, “Circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.” 

The Prophet Jeremiah tells Israel to repent from evil deeds, saying, “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your heart” (Jeremiah 4:4). The Apostle Paul contrasts a circumcised proselyte who does not keep the commandments against an uncircumcised Gentile who does keep the commandments.  He says that the latter demonstrates a circumcision “which is of the heart, by the Spirit” (Romans 2:29).  Jewish eschatology teaches that when Messiah comes, God will circumcise our hearts by removing the evil inclination. Messiah is the circumciser of hearts. 

This is what the scripture means in Jeremiah 31:33, “… I will put My Torah within them and on their heart I will write it.” This refers to the abolition of the evil inclination and the hearts doing by nature that which is proper to do … similarly, Ezekiel states, “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  The “new heart” refers to its new nature (Deuteronomy 30:6).  The prophecy from Ezekiel echoes the prophecies in Deuteronomy 30:1-6. Ezekiel describes how God will gather Israel together from the nations, purify them, circumcise their hearts, and enable them to keep the Torah:  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land ...I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers (Ezekiel 36:24-28). 

The result of this circumcision of heart is obedience to God.  Moses says that when God finally circumcises the heart of His people, they will “again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments” (Deuteronomy 30:8). In other words, God is going to enable us to keep His Torah. He is going to set us free from sin and cause us to walk in righteousness.  Those who do not strive to keep All the commandments of God have not yet been enabled by the spirit of God.  Maybe they are resisting and grieving the Spirit by following the will of their own spirit.  Keeping Torah is one of the promises of the Messianic Age. 

Paul explains that we who have become partakers of Messiah have already begun to enter the new covenant and the circumcision of the heart. He calls it the “circumcision of Messiah” when he says, “In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah” (Colossians 2:11). 

Free to Choose Life in Adversity.

While it is not possible to control all the circumstances that affect our lives, we can determine how we will react to them.  It might be easier to be happy or be nice when everything is going well; but there is no guarantee that we will be happy or nice even in the midst of good times.  Likewise, tragic circumstances do not have to shake us from our firm foundation so that we lose faith in God and become miserable and bitter.  A woman whose son had passed away from cancer, leaving behind a young wife with three small children, was overheard saying only praises and honour about God, frequently uttering, Baruch Hashem (Blessed be His Name).  It was memorable of Job who was able to say, 'He gives and He takes away.  Baruch Hashem,' after losing his health, his children and his livelihood."  (Job 1:21). 

A famous psychologist and Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl, wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning about humankind's ability to exercise free will during the horrific circumstances of the Nazi concentration and death camps.  Although we might expect that a person would be incapable of acting in kind, moral, humane ways under such terrible conditions, Frankl reports in his book that this was not the case; he observed many examples of heroic individuals.  Frankl wrote, “[These men] offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way . . .”  (pp. 86–88). 

Even under extreme physical and emotional stress, we can choose our behaviour, whether to love and forgive or remain in hatred and bitterness.  Most of us will never have to endure such brutal conditions; but each one of us will be presented with choices throughout our lives.  Whether at work, play or the world’s injustices.  We must choose whether or not to be courageous, unselfish and faithful; or bow to fear, fight for our own way and lose our human dignity, especially during serious adversity.  Our morality and ethics will be tested at various times throughout our lives.  We cannot plead, as did some of the Nazis charged with war crimes, who defended themselves saying, “I had no choice…. I was just following orders.” 

The truth is that we always have the ability to act in accordance with the values of the Torah or to walk along that broad path that leads to destruction.  

Free to Return to God.

 In this section, God tells the Israelites that those who will be scattered into exile due to sin, would be gathered back to the Promised Land when they returned to Him.  And after He gathers and returns them to their own land, He would bless and prosper His people Israel.   He would also give them a new spirit as happened in Acts 2.

Deu 30:2-3 When you and your children return to Yahweh your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then Yahweh your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you.  Deu 30:4  If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will Yahweh thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: Deu 30:5  And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. Deu 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deu 30:7  And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. 

The promise and its conditions extended to others too “Deu 29:14  Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; Deu 29:15  But with him that stands here with us this day before Yahweh our God and also with him that is not here with us this day ”.  Many different groups of people today claim to be the original Israelites.  That the present occupiers of Jerusalem are imposters.  Yet, it tis the present occupiers who are keeping and Torah and not those claiming to be the real or descendants of the original!  At least return to the criteria of the blessings and forsake the criteria of the curses!  Not say they were nailed to the cross, all days are the same, God would not mind due to His compassion or follow inherited traditions of men from centuries back or who set up their own church.  Deu 29:24  Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? Deu 29:25  Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: Deu 29:26  For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them: Deu 29:27  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:  Still, today many believe that it is just too hard to obey God or keep the Torah.

This section reminds us that God promises that it is NOT too difficult for us to walk in obedience:  Deu 30:11  For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. Deu 30:12  It is not in heaven, that thou should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Deu 30:14  But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou may do it. Deu 30:15  See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; Deu 30:16  In that I command thee this day to love Yahweh thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou may live and multiply: and Yahweh thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deu 30:17  But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; Deu 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

Keeping the Law is good, not keeping is evil.  Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.    Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Mat 7:19  Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Scripture says law keepers are tending to be good and non law keepers to be evil for whom a place and outcome is reserved on judgement day. 

God does not give us something we cannot do.  Moreover, there are many rewards for being obedient.  These rewards are not relegated to olam habah (the world to come) but are also for our lives here and now.  They are not only spiritual rewards for when we get to Heaven; they are also physical, material, and emotional rewards such as long life, prosperity and success for today.  Yet, evil persists, and we know that even the obedient ones fall prey at times to the oppression and attacks of the enemy and to a world that is fallen.  Yahshua (Jesus to some people) even said that “in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33). 

Repentance.

Do not underestimate the greatness of repentance. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent.  A person should repent every day.  No one is so holy and righteous that they do not need to repent. Neither is any person so lowly and sinful that he cannot repent.  Moses told the children of Israel that when they returned to God, He would return to them (Deut 30:2).  The concept of returning to God is called "repentance" (teshuvah, תשובה).  It is one of the most important messages of the Bible.  Repentance is a central thrust of Yahshua's teaching and the Gospel imperative.  Yahshua's message was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). What is true repentance?  In Hebrew, the verb for "repent" is shuv (שוב). It means "to turn around" or "to turn back and go in the other direction." To repent means "to quit sinning, turn around and start doing good." It is more than just a change of mind; teshuvah demands a change of behaviour.  It is about starting over fresh and trying to do better. Repentance happens when a man realizes that he has sinned and that his sin is offensive to God; he regrets his misdeed, confesses it, renounces it and endeavours to change his behaviour. A person can only repent when they are honest with themselves about his faults, shortcomings, character flaws and weaknesses. 

God receives sincere repentance. He does not turn away from a person who asks for forgiveness in the name of His Son and earnestly endeavours to change. Instead, God receives that petition and grants the gift of forgiveness. He removes the person's sin and erases records of guilt. He freely accepts the person back into His love.  The person who earnestly repents with his heart and soul and asks for forgiveness in the name of Yahshua is immediately reconnected with God. It is as if a light switch is flipped, and where there was darkness, the room blazes with light. A moment before, the person's sins stood between him and God. At the moment of repentance, the person stands in the very presence of God. 

The devil tells a person, "God will not forgive you again. How dare you ask Him for forgiveness? He could never forgive a person like you after what you have done." But no man's sin is so great that the love of God as expressed through Yahshua is not greater still. If God did not spare His own Son for you but was willing that He should be sacrificed for you, His love for you is certainly greater than your sin. God will receive your confession of sin, your prayer for forgiveness and your resolution to do better, even if you must repeat it many times a day. 

Those who have troubles do not have to succumb to fear.

While Frankl reminds us that we can find meaning even in the midst of suffering, Scripture tells us that the enemy cannot take away from us many good things: our freedom to choose good; our faith in the God of Israel and our faith in Yahshua as our Messiah, who sacrificed His own life to release us from spiritual bondage so we can be truly experience freedom in this life if we repent of and confess our sins. 

No matter how bleak things look at any given moment, God will show us evidence of His goodness and mercy while we are yet on this earth.  As King David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).  Choosing life entails loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.  Listening to the voice of His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and keeping His commandments.  Doing so is the very best choice we could ever make: for this is our very life!  In a nutshell, that is why all God said then is still to be kept today and not only for the Israel by birth or circumcision; but by spirit and uncircumcised grafted in ones.  Only the animal sacrifices for forgiveness of sins has been improved with a better lamb of the Father’s son himself. 

“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love Yahweh your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.  For Yahweh is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”  (Deuteronomy 30:20). 

Did God Change His Mind or Requirements?

Did God suddenly change His mind and declare to His people, “Never mind that stuff about keeping the Torah.  From now on, you just need to believe in my Son”?  

As Moses prophetically looks towards the future generations of Israel, he sees the first and second exiles. He sees that a time will come when the nations will ask why God has treated His people in this manner.  Those that ask are answered, “Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 29:25) They forsook obedience to the Torah. 

Let’s consider the gravity of Moses’ warning.  God gave Israel the Torah. They enter into a covenant whereby they promise to keep the Torah. Moses warns them that if they break that covenant and transgress the Torah, then desolation, exile, curse and captivity will befall them.  In later generations, a long string of prophets come to Israel with the same message, always entreating Israel to return to Torah and walk in covenant faithfulness.  For the 1400 years from Sinai until the days of the Messiah, God continuously calls Israel to observe Torah and punishes them with exile, destruction and the horror of His curses if they do not.  At a certain time, he exiles His people, destroys His own Temple and lays waste His land because Israel did not keep the Torah.  After 70 years of exile, He returns the remnant of Judah to the land with admonitions and warnings to keep His Torah and walk faithfully in His covenant. 

All of that being so, does it make sense that He should suddenly change His mind and declare to His people, “Never mind that stuff about keeping the Torah.  From now on, you just need to believe in my Son.” Could there be a greater travesty of justice?  Or a worse injustice would be to hold His chosen people to the Torah observance; but the unchosen gentiles are free not to obey!  What of the generations that suffered for their disobedience? Why did they suffer if God knew all along that subsequent generations would be encouraged to forsake Torah? How could God, after generation on generation of calling His people to Torah obedience, after book upon holy book of Scripture that exhorts His people to Torah, expect His people to suddenly follow a new way that forsoke the Torah? 

When Messiah came, He did not forsake the Torah.  Instead, He said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfil (establish and confirm).  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17–18). 

Isaiah brief observations:

Isa 61:2 is what Yahshua read in the synagogue to show He was the Messiah.  This verse is commonly not read in synagogues as part of the weekly Torah readings.  Maybe because it would add to confirm Yahshua was the promised Messiah.

Isa 61:11  For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so Yahweh GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isa 62:1  For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. Isa 62:2  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.  Isa 62:6  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: … 62:7 .. till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.   62:8 Yahweh hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, … Isa 62:11  Behold, Yahweh hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; … Isa 62:12  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. 

The reason Yahweh called out a certain group of people was to make them an example for the rest of the world.  Like a mould cast for other nations and people to follow.  Deu 4:7  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as Yahweh our God is in all things that we call upon him for? Deu 4:8  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Psa 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God.  We saw from Deu 30:15 above that the law was the good thing set before the people and commanded by God to be kept.  Here in the New Testament we are also told to keep these good things.  Rom7:12  Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

Romans 11:17-26 

Many Christians believe through inherited replacement theology, that they are either the new spiritual Israel or are graffed into the olive tree despite not keeping the correct holy days of God.  This partly comes from an incorrect understanding of this section.  Let us look at the three groups spoken of in verses 17-26, who is broken off from the olive tree and who is joined to whom.

Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [here we have root and branches].

Rom 11:17  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [here we have some branches broken off of the olive tree.  They are plural to the singular olive tree and are called “them”.  Then we have the wild olive tree, again singular, which is grafted into the “them”, the plural “some branches” which were broken off.  They come in the same sentence to show they go together.  Then those two partake of the olive tree.  Obviously the wild olive tree was therefore first grafted into the broken off branches NOT the olive tree.]

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

Rom 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  [Remember the Law is good] Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good [the law].  Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good.  Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

Shalom and wish you a blessed week to come.